Earlham Talks Online

Just released! Videos of three talks from our Novem­ber 2014 war tax re­sis­tance con­ference, held at Earl­ham School of Reli­gion in Rich­mond, In­di­ana: "What does the Su­preme Court's Hob­by Lob­by deci­sion mean for war tax re­sis­ters?" by Pe­ter Gold­berger; "Qua­kers and the war tax con­cern: unfin­ished bus­iness?" by Lon­nie Val­en­tine; and, "Stra­tegizing for so­cial change in 21st cen­tury Amer­ica" by Joan­na Swang­er.

Summer Reading

Books by and about war tax resisters. Check back now and then as we'll keep adding to the list.

Anarchists and War Tax Resistance

Anarchists and anti-authoritarians oppose the state and its machinations. We
may find it incongruous with our beliefs to pay taxes, particularly when
around half of the annual federal budget pays for the war machine. Some people
choose to resist taxes specifically because of their opposition to the
military.

What is War Tax Resistance?

War tax resistance is refusal to pay some or all of the taxes that pay for
war. In the U.S., war tax resisters may
resist federal income tax and/or the federal excise tax on local telephone
service. They may also limit their spending on gasoline, alcohol, and other
items taxed by the federal government. War tax resisters either keep their
income below the taxable level to avoid owing the
IRS anything or donate resisted
taxes to other worthy causes, showing that they can make better use of the tax
dollars than the government can.

Why Should Anarchists Consider War Tax Resistance?

Forty-eight percent of every
income tax dollar spent by the federal government goes to militarism,
including wars, past debt on wars, and maintenance of the
U.S. military, its bases, and equipment.
Anarchists and anti-authoritarians use a variety of tactics to oppose the
state and capitalism, including war tax resistance. If we don’t believe that
the military should exist, withdrawing our financial contributions sends a
strong message.

As war tax resisters, we think that resisting militarism and war is worth
the potential risks and hassles. Our actions provoke thought about
alternatives to taxation in an anarchist society, and build solidarity with
people of other political perspectives who share our commitment to abolishing
militarism. No one tactic will eliminate the state, so it’s important to
confront state power in as many ways you are able. Ask yourself: if you oppose
the state with your rhetoric and actions but support it with your money, how
effective are you really being?

Ways to Resist

Many anarchists and anti-authoritarians make low enough incomes that the
IRS does not require them to pay
income taxes. Whether or not your low income is voluntary, you can limit or
eliminate any federal income tax withholdings on your paycheck through the W-4
form, which you fill out at the beginning of your employment as part of the
paperwork. You’ll hold onto your earned money from the beginning rather than
loaning it to the government until you get a refund at tax time. People of
almost all income levels and job situations can be war tax resisters. See
Resources below for more information.

If you choose not to pay income taxes, you can also choose whether or not to
file an income tax return. To avoid any income tax liability, you may earn
less than a taxable income and/or take deductions to increase the amount of
money you can make without owing taxes. If you are self-employed, you can
resist Social Security and Medicare taxes too, because the government borrows
that money for their wars. However, this is not an exhaustive list of the ways
to resist!